Greece: TV screens still blank as political dispute continues

ATHENS, Greece – State TV signals remain blank in Greece as parties in the governing coalition were still at odds over what to do with public broadcaster ERT.

Conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras averted the threat of a snap general election late Monday at a meeting with center-left coalition partners who strongly oppose his June 11 decision to close ERT and fire all its 2,600 staff.

Samaras and his partners agreed to continue negotiations and will meet again Wednesday.

Shares on the Athens Stock Exchange were up near 3 percent midday Tuesday, as markets in Europe were mixed.